ALBANY — Police are taking steps to protect an Albany police officer whose family has received threats after he was publicly identified for using pepper spray to quell Occupy Albany protesters last week.

A "wanted" poster seeking information including the home address, telephone numbers and "map to home" of Officer Richard Gorleski was posted Wednesday on a Facebook page used by Occupy Albany.

Gorleski's address and telephone numbers are not publicly listed. But Gorleski's father, a Troy resident who has the same first name as his son, began receiving unsettling telephone calls from blocked numbers this week. Troy police said they have taken measures to keep watch on the residence.

"We have, in fact, been in contact with Officer Gorleski about his concerns, and they will be our utmost priority," said Troy police Capt. John Cooney. "We are aware of Rich's concerns, and we're going to take it very seriously and maintain a safe environment for his family, as we would for any person in that position."

The confrontation took place Dec. 22 after police and city workers flooded Academy Park and began dismantling the Occupy Albany encampment, which had been a fixture across from City Hall and the Capitol since Oct. 21.

Gorleski, who is president of the Albany Police Officers Union, drew sharp criticism from protesters and some observers for the use of pepper spray. Police said the crowd in Academy Park was ignoring officers' instructions when a group of the activists returned to the park after carrying a large tent through city streets before city workers could dismantle it. Gorleski and another officer rode their horses alongside the tent as the protesters apparently intended to carry the tent through city streets a second time.

Gorleski used pepper spray when, according to police officials, the crowd grew unruly and converged on Gorleski and his horse.

Occupy Albany supporters characterized the officer's actions as brutal and said he used unnecessary and excessive force. Four people were arrested and several were treated after being struck in the face with the blinding spray.

Mark Mishler, an attorney working with Occupy Albany, said Thursday afternoon he was not aware of the Facebook posts or the harassing telephone calls.

"Making harassing phone calls is not something Occupy Albany supports or condones," Mishler said. "Just like any other organization or group or movement, Occupy Albany doesn't control what any particular individual does and certainly doesn't control what somebody who's not involved with Occupy Albany does. ... We're building a movement to address the inequities in our society, political inequities and economic inequities. We're interested in building a movement and making change. We're not interested in making harassing phone calls."

Stephen Reilly, Albany's deputy police chief, condemned the people responsible for making threats. Reilly said the officer was following orders, and his use of pepper spray against the protesters was intended to protect the public and police officers from more serious injuries.

"Officer Gorleski, like every other police officer, puts his life on the line on a daily basis for all members of the community, including the members of the Occupy Albany movement," Reilly said. "Officer Gorleski was one of many officers following my orders that day. ... I personally directed the horses into the park. I told them to go on each side of the tent because we had to keep the tent from being moved. He was following my direction, my orders."